JP2006273351A - Optical component packing container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical component packing container capable of solving problems of damages of optical components caused by vibrational impacts and refuse generation caused by abrading an inner wall of the container by the optical components by securing and packing the optical components by using an arraying means with the shock-absorbing function. <P>SOLUTION: The optical component packing container has an arraying means 11 to array a plurality of the optical components D in series parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, and a case 2 to hold the arraying means. Two coil springs 12 arranged parallel to each other across the predetermined width space are used for the arraying means. Both ends of the optical components are inserted in a space formed between pitches of the coil springs and retained elastically. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical component packaging container in which mainly plate-like optical components are aligned and held with sufficient directionality while ensuring sufficient buffering properties, and can be provided to the next process or assembly manufacturer.

Polyhedrons such as beam splitters and prisms as optical components used in optical pickups and other optical devices are configured to have a small size of several mm square in response to the demand for miniaturization. In order to prevent parts from being damaged due to impacts or becoming defective due to foreign matters such as dust, the handling of the parts requires the utmost consideration. For this reason, various types of packaging containers have been proposed in consideration of impact resistance when impact or vibration is applied during transportation and prevention of adhesion of dust and the like.
For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2167, an adhesive sheet is stretched on the bottom surface of a through hole of a case body having a through hole for accommodating an optical device, and one surface of the optical device is bonded and held by the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet. An optical device packaging is disclosed. In this conventional example, when an impact is applied from the lower surface side of the case body, the impact is directly transmitted to the optical device, so that the optical device may be damaged by colliding with the inner surface of the case body, or the inner wall of the case body may be damaged. There arises a problem such that dust generated by cutting adheres to the optical device. Further, since the structure is such that only one surface of the optical device is adhered and supported, the holding force against impact is not sufficient. In addition, because the case body with a through hole is made of resin material such as PET, PS, etc., a mold is required for manufacturing the container, and individually according to the type, shape and size of the optical components. There is a limit to cost reduction because of the need to manufacture.
Next, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-30593 discloses a configuration in which an adhesive sheet is disposed on the bottom surface of the lower case via a thin cushion member, and the optical device surface is bonded and supported via the cushion member. Has been. However, since this conventional example only supports one surface of the optical device in a state where it floats from the inner bottom surface of the lower case via a thin cushion member, depending on the applied impact and the shape of the optical device, the optical device may be Problems such as collision with the bottom surface of the case and damage or generation of dust by scraping the case occur. In addition, since the case is made of a resin material such as PET or PS, a mold is required for manufacturing the container, and it is also necessary to manufacture individually according to the difference in the type, shape, and size of the optical component. There was a limit to cost reduction.

Next, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-370780 discloses that the central part of the bottom surface (non-optical surface) of an optical component is bonded and supported through a cushion by a protruding adhesive member provided on the bottom surface of the lower case, and the upper case ceiling surface. The entire upper surface (non-optical surface) of the optical component is supported by the air cushion provided on the optical device, and the optical device bottom surface is fully supported by the bottom surface of the lower case made of PET, and only the central portion of the optical device upper surface is formed from the PET. The structure is supported by the protrusions provided on the upper case, and further, the entire bottom surface of the optical component is directly bonded and supported by the bottom surface of the lower case made of PET, and the entire upper surface of the optical component is provided by the air cushion disposed on the ceiling surface of the upper case. The structure which supports is disclosed.
However, since each of the above conventional examples has a configuration in which the cushion member is disposed at a position corresponding to the side surface (optical surface) of the optical component, the lateral volume of the lower case increases and the amount of waste to be discarded increases. The problem of increasing occurs. There also arises a problem that the optical surface is damaged and dust adheres when the cushion member comes into contact with the optical surface. Further, since the lower case or the upper case made of PET and the optical component are in direct contact with each other, the possibility that the PET portion is scraped and dust is generated increases. In addition, since the case is made of a resin material such as PET, a mold is required for manufacturing the container, and since it is necessary to manufacture individually according to the type, shape, and size of the optical component, the cost is reduced. There was a limit to reduction.
JP 2001-2167 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-30593 JP 2002-370780 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and by packing an optical component while holding the optical component by using an array unit having a buffer function, the optical component is damaged by the vibration shock, or the optical component scrapes the inner wall of the container. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical component packing container that can solve the problem of dust generation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a packaging container for optical components, comprising: arranging means for arranging a plurality of optical parts in series at a predetermined pitch; and a case holding the arranging means. As the arrangement means, two coil springs arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval in the width direction are used, and both end edges of the optical component are inserted into a gap formed between the pitches of the coil springs to be elastic. It is characterized in that it is configured to be held in
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the end surface of the coil spring has a circular shape, a circular arc shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the case is provided with a pitch adjusting means for setting a pitch width of the coil spring to an arbitrary interval.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the pitch adjusting unit is a unit that supports both end portions of the coil spring and widens the pitch width.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third aspect, the pitch adjusting means is a winding means for winding a longitudinal end portion of the coil spring.
The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, the plurality of coil springs and the plurality of optical components held by the coil springs are vacuum sealed in a bag.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, both end edges of the optical component are inserted and elastically held in the gap formed between the pitches of the two coil springs arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the width direction. As a result, the optical component is protected even when vibration or impact is applied. Further, by supporting the optical component from the case inner wall in a non-contact state, the case inner wall is not scraped by the optical component and no dust is generated. Since the gap width (pitch width) of the coil springs can be adjusted, it is possible to use the same coil spring to hold optical parts having different thicknesses and different dimensions.
The invention according to claim 2 can select not only a circular shape but also an arc shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape as the end face shape of the coil spring, so that a coil sling having an optimum shape can be selected according to the shape of the optical component. it can.
Since the inventions of claims 3, 4 and 5 are provided with pitch adjusting means for setting the pitch width of the coil spring to an arbitrary interval, various optical devices having different thicknesses and shapes using one packing container. The parts can be held.
In the invention of claim 6, since the plurality of coil springs and the plurality of optical parts held by the coil springs are vacuum-sealed in the bag, the optical parts are protected from dust in addition to the effects of the above-mentioned claims. can do.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
1A, 1B, and 1C are a perspective view, a plan view, and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which an optical component is held in a packaging container, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are views of the present invention. It is the front view which shows the basic shape of the arrangement | sequence means which comprises the optical component packing container which concerns on one Embodiment, and an end view (A arrow line view).
The packaging container 1 includes a lower case 3, a case 2 including an upper case 4 that closes an upper surface opening of the lower case 3, and an arrangement unit 11 that is supported by the lower case 3. The arrangement means 11 may be supported by the upper case 4.
The arrangement means 11 is composed of at least two coil springs 12 arranged in parallel with a predetermined width direction interval w, and each coil spring 12 is made of wire having the same pitch, the same size, and the same material. Configure to the same length. In this example, the end face shape is circular, but any end face shape may be used as described later. The wire constituting the coil spring may be a metal or a resin. In the case of metal, a resin coating is applied. As the cross-sectional shape of the wire rod, all shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon (a corner portion is chamfered in an R shape) can be assumed.
The lower case 3 in the case 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a frame body 6 is erected and fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 5, and two opposing wall portions 6 a and 6 b of the frame body 6 are formed. A plurality of locking members (locking pins in this example) 7 are provided on the upper surface in a predetermined arrangement. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the coil spring 12 applied to the case 2, there are provided locked portions 12a that protrude in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined length and whose tips are configured in a hook shape or an annular shape, and the locked portion 12a. Is configured to be locked by the locking member 7. The interval w between the coil springs 12 in the width direction is such that the engagement portion of the coil spring is fixed to an arbitrary engagement member 7 selected from a plurality of engagement members 7 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the walls 6a and 6b. Adjust by locking 12a. Or you may comprise so that the position of the latching member 7 can be moved and adjusted finely in the width direction. In short, the width direction interval w between the coil springs and the width direction position of the pair of coil springs 12 can be arbitrarily changed and adjusted.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), when the open portions (holding portions) 12A of two adjacent coil springs 12 face each other, one optical component is provided in each open portion 12A facing each other. The end edges of D are respectively fitted and held.
The end edge of the optical member D is elastically pinched and held by the coil spring wire constituting the open portion 12A, so that it is protected even when vibration or impact is applied. In addition, by supporting the optical component D from the case inner wall in a non-contact state, the inner wall of the case is not scraped by the optical component and no dust is generated.

FIGS. 3A to 3H are end views showing a modification of the coil spring. FIG. 3A is a horizontally long oval shape, and FIG. 3B is a horizontally long oval shape. Good. In this way, by using a horizontally long or vertically long ellipse or ellipse, it is possible to realize an optimal holding form according to individual circumstances such as the shape and size of the optical component D as a holding object. In particular, when three or more coil springs 12 are arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 4 and the optical components are held in a two-row vertical configuration using a central coil spring, a horizontally long coil spring is used. By doing so, it becomes easy to simultaneously hold two rows of optical components.
Next, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3C to 3H, the bottom is configured to be flat so as to improve the installation stability of the lower case 3 with respect to the upper surface of the bottom plate. (C) is a semicircular shape, (d) is a shape in which a part of a circle is cut out in a straight line, and (e) is a shape in which a part of a vertically long ellipse (or oval) is cut out in a straight line. (F) is a shape in which a part of a horizontally long ellipse is cut out in a straight line. (G) is a circular arc shape with a central angle θ of 90 degrees, and (h) is a shape obtained by cutting an ellipse or an oval shape so that the central angle is 90 degrees.
By making the bottom side straight (flat) in this way, the position of the open portion (gap) 12A of the coil spring in contact with the edge of the optical component is specified, and stable holding can be realized. Moreover, the holding | maintenance suitable for each optical component is realizable by selecting arbitrarily the shape of parts other than a base.

Next, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the width (pitch width) p of the opening portion 12A is changed so that optical components having different thicknesses and shapes can be held using coil springs having the same configuration. A configured example is shown.
In this example, one of the wall portions 6a and 6b of the lower case 3 is locked, for example, the locked portion 12a provided at one end of the coil spring 12 by the locking member 7 provided on the wall 6a side, while the coil A line member 13 such as a string or a flexible wire is fixed to the other end of the spring 12 for a required length, and the pitch adjusting means (winding means = winding means = The axial length of the coil spring is expanded and contracted by winding or unwinding with a screw 15, a pin, a roller, a bobbin or the like (15) rotatably supported. For this reason, the elastic pinching force can be adjusted by changing the width p (pitch width) of the opening portion 12A that holds the optical component in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the axial length of the coil spring. Accordingly, optical components having different thicknesses and shapes can be held.

Next, based on FIG. 6, the structural example which vacuum-packs the optical component hold | maintained with the coil spring as an arrangement | sequence means of this invention is demonstrated.
First, as shown in FIG. 6A, both end edges of the optical component D are inserted and held in pressure contact with each open portion 12A facing each other of the two coil springs 12 arranged in parallel on the flat base 20. When the holding of all the optical components D is completed, a bag 21 made of vinyl or the like is placed on the unit U including the two coil springs 12 and the optical component group excluding the pedestal 20, and the bag 21 is filled with a vacuum pump (not shown). After the air is removed, the opening of the bag 21 is sealed ((b)).
In addition, you may vacuum-seal in the pedestal various bags 21 in the state which mounted the unit U on the pedestal 20 of Fig.6 (a).
In any case, since the unit U comprising the coil spring and the optical component is vacuum-sealed, dust is prevented from adhering to the air, and the bag 21 made of vinyl or the like functions as a cushioning material, and the optical component D is damaged. prevent. In addition, since the bag 21 is in close contact with the optical component and the coil spring, the optical component and the coil spring are in a fixed state, so that problems such as damage to the optical component due to rubbing of both do not occur.
Further, the work of forming the unit U by inserting the optical component D into the opening 12A in a state where the coil spring 12 set on the pedestal 20 is held in a predetermined expanded state has good workability. When holding optical components having different thicknesses and width direction dimensions, the optical components may be set after finely adjusting the pitch of the opening portions 12A and the interval between the coil springs.
In addition, the coil spring used in the present invention may be configured such that the pitch width is widened by expanding the one that is in a compressed state in the axial direction in the axial direction, or one that is in a state in which the coil spring is always expanded. You may make it narrow a pitch width by compressing.

(A) (b) And (c) is the perspective view, the top view, and longitudinal cross-sectional view which show the state which hold | maintained the optical component in the packaging container. (A) And (b) is a front view which shows the basic shape of the arrangement | sequence means which comprises the optical component packing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and an end view (A arrow line view). (A) thru | or (h) is an end elevation which shows the modification structural example of the coil spring of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the structural example which has arrange | positioned three or more coil springs in parallel. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the example comprised so that the width | variety (pitch width | variety) of an open part might be changed so that optical components of different thickness and a shape could be hold | maintained using the coil spring of the same structure. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the structural example which vacuum-packs the optical component hold | maintained with the coil spring.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packing container, 2 Case, 3 Lower case, 4 Upper case, 5 Bottom plate, 6 Frame body, 7 Locking member, 11 Arrangement means, 12 Coil spring, 12a Locked part, 12A Opening part, 20 Base, 21 Bag .

Claims (6)

In a packaging container for optical components, comprising: an array unit that serially arranges a plurality of optical components at a predetermined pitch; and a case that holds the array unit.
As the arrangement means, two coil springs arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval in the width direction are used, and both end edges of the optical component are inserted into a gap formed between the pitches of the coil springs to be elastic. An optical component packing container configured to be held in a container.   2. The optical component packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the coil spring has a circular shape, a circular arc shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape.   3. The optical component packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the case includes pitch adjusting means for setting a pitch width of the coil spring to an arbitrary interval.   4. The optical component packing container according to claim 3, wherein the pitch adjusting means is means for supporting both ends of the coil spring to widen the pitch width.   The optical component packing container according to claim 3, wherein the pitch adjusting means is a winding means for winding up an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the coil spring.   The optical component packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of coil springs and the plurality of optical components held by the coil springs are vacuum-sealed in a bag.

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